Meet Marie Lavallee

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marie Lavallee. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marie below.

Hi Marie, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Over the course of time, I have cultivated a close-knit circle of friends and family who have consistently provided unwavering support and encouragement throughout my journey. By eliminating the detrimental influences that surround me, I have achieved a profound sense of tranquility and self-assurance. This inner voice has served as my guiding beacon for the past several years, instilling immense joy, confidence, and inner peace. As a result, my work has taken a more creative and personal trajectory.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

About 10 years ago, I made a big change in my life by leaving the world of jewelry to pursue a creative journey with colors and a paintbrush. It took some time to figure out what my unique style was, but now I can confidently say that metal leafing and vibrant colors are definitely part of my work.

I love painting animals, especially birds, and I try to make sense by painting an abstract backgrounds and juxtaposing a detailed animal subject. This combination of contrasting techniques creates a calm and balanced artwork. It really makes me happy when someone sees my work and feels the calmness and balance that I created.

Right now, I’m working on four large pieces that will be in a permanent exhibition in Southern California. This is exciting because it’ll be in a new hospital wing and hopefully bring a bright moment to a challenging environment. It will hopefully humanize a clinical situation.

I also participate in a lot of pop-up juried art events, like the Beverly Hills Art Show and the Liberty Station Artwalk in San Diego. I recently applied to convention center art events to expand my horizons.

I’ve won a few awards over the years, but the best reward for me is to know that my pieces are going into loving forever homes.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

One of the qualities that impacts my work is Curiosity;

When I think of a new subject I do a bit or research and try to find quite a few references that I can merge together to create a different point of view.

Another impactful quality is fearlessness;

Listening to that positive inner voice that dares me to try something different. I can’t tell you the number of times that my painting didn’t match my vision, in that case I will either sand it down or destroy hit till it matches the vision that I originally intended, it propels me to be better.

And the most important quality is determination:

It is hard to swim against the current, but I truly feel that to stand out is to do something different, by following the trends or the popular ideas would be like selling my soul. By committing to my vision allow me to create a unique point of view.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

The world can be a tough place sometimes, and it takes a lot of effort to stay positive.

My husband and I love to travel, and we try to make the most of our adventures. Being together and experiencing new things helps us relax and open our minds. Sometimes, the beautiful scenery or the misty air can inspire us and bring us joy.

Another way I try to combat negative feelings is by practicing yoga. I’m not very good at it, but the repetitive movements and focused breathing help me feel more balanced. I’m not exactly flexible, but yoga pushes me to be better.

The best way to start fighting negative feelings is to take the first step, no matter how small. I usually start by doing the thing I dread the most and end by doing the thing I’m most excited about. It’s amazing how effective it is!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wittyartstudio.com
• Instagram: @wittyartstudio

Image Credits

photos by Marie Lavallee